Tennessee freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer is entering the transfer portal, CBS Sports Chris Hummer first reported on Wednesday afternoon. Van Dorselaer was in line for a role on Tennessee’s offense next season but instead entered the portal in the second to last day before it closes.
Van Dorselaer played in 12 games for Tennessee during his freshman season, catching five passes for 23 yards and one touchdown. His lone touchdown came in Tennessee’s lopsided win over ETSU at Neyland Stadium.
The 6-foot-5, 236-pound tight end started the year as Tennessee’s third string tight end but spent a chunk of the year as backup Ethan Davis battled an injury. Most of Van Dorselaer’s role was as a blocking tight end in 12 personnel.
Over the course of the season, Van Dorselaer played 180 snaps where he earned a 48.1 PFF grade. He played a season-high 35 snaps against UAB before playing 31 snaps two weeks later against Arkansas.
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A Texas native, Van Dorselaer was a standout at Dallas area Southlake Carroll. He ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 374 player in the country according tot he 247sports composite rankings. Van Dorselaer was one of Tennessee’s first commits in the 2025 recruiting cycle, pledging to the Vols on Jan. 7, 2024.
With Van Dorselaer heading to the portal, Tennessee now returns Davis and fellow freshman tight end DaSaahn Brame. Davis flashed in the back half of the 2025 season and Brame was a former top 100 recruit who is a talented pass catcher. Cole Harrison and incoming freshman Luca Wolf are also tight ends on Tennessee’s roster.
It does not appear that Van Dorselaer’s move to the portal caught Tennessee off guard. Georgia transfer tight end Pearce Spurlin III is visiting Tennessee later this week according to GoVols247’s Ryan Callahan.
Tennessee has landed 12 commitments in the transfer portal to date including Williams, Penn State LEO Chaz Coleman, Tulane LEO Jordan Norman, Penn State inside linebacker Amare Campbell, Penn State safety Dejuan Lane, Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, Kansas State nickelback Qua Moss, Michigan safety TJ Metcalf, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, Oklahoma State receiver Gavin Freeman, Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier and Eastern Kentucky linebacker/long snapper Blake Howard.
